Erica Jureckson and Sara Wade. Photo provided by The Colonial Players.
The collaboration between the music of Lee Pockriss and the lyrics of Anne Croswell, Ernest In Love at Colonial Players of Annapolis is a light musical comedy based on Oscar Wilde’s novel, “The Importance of Being Ernest.” It first opened off-Broadway in 1960, running for only 103 performances. It has captured a larger audience in recent years performing in the smaller venues. Directed by Rick Wade, this light-hearted musical comedy pokes fun at stereotypical Victorian Era England, when breaking rules of social propriety could ruin reputations. One’s heritage and value in society was based on wealth, family history, property holdings and possibly charm.
Ernest in Love portrays an adorably deceitful young gentleman, known as Jack (Ernest) Worthing. Known as Ernest in town but Jack in the country this allows for the comedic twists of fate. Ernest or Jack depending upon who he is at the moment is played by an affable, quick-witted, Eric Hufford. He is of unknown parentage, raised by a wealthy family, he desires to marry the beautiful eligible young woman, Gwendolen Fairfax, scrumptiously played by Erica Jureckson. The joy in her performance is that her beautiful soprano voice, big bright eyes and clear diction help the audience immediately understand her true shallow nature. Names are prudently British and poke at the snobbery of the Victorian era gentry. This bliss or our young lovers is short lived as Gwendolen’s mother; Lady Blackwell makes it abundantly clear that Mr. Worthing’s parentage is not suitable for her daughter through her hilarious song, “A Handbag Is Not A Proper Mother.”
…the music delicious, the plot hilarious and the acting superb!
While this deception unfolds, Jack’s friend Algernon Moncrieff, played by the dashing and immediately likeable Stephen Baird, decides to enhance the confusion by gallivanting off and pretending to be Ernest at Jack’s home in the country. Jack’s ward Cicily, adorable in a sexy young innocent manner believes Ernest to be Jack’s wicked brother and the reason for him leaving to the town. Jack’s ward, the ingénue herself, Ms. Cicily Cardew, played by the stunning lyrical soprano, Sarah Wade is beguiled with Algernon, this trickster, and sings her love and devotion to him in, “A Wicked Man.” Her duet, “My Very First Impression” had all the feelings of “Loathing” from Wicked the Musical. Her loosely braided hair cascading over her country simple dress made her the epitome of the ingénue.
The working class is not ignored, as some of the most delightful moments come from the lyrics and voices of the serving class. Natalie Nankervis plays Alice, Ms. Fairfax’s maid, who helps find just “The Hat” while the audience sees that this production has great musicality and acting at every level. Ms. Nankervis was so fetching and playful that I look forward to seeing her in many more local productions. The shameless and free antics of the maid, Effie, played by Sherri Millan, and the butler, Lane, played by Greg Jones as they cuddle and pinch and seem to be enjoying life without the chaste and rigid rules of high society.
Small cast, big impressions, Dianne Hood, a veteran actress in the Washington area, shows that minor characters can pack a great theatrical punch in her portrayal of Miss Prism. I cannot give away her importance in the show, but her mature yet seductive nature with trying to convert Dr. Chasuble, a priest, to do naughty things was hilarious. His portrayal of the musical number, “Metaphorically Speaking” was show stopping!
Set Designer Edd Miller, a retired interior designer, had his work cut out for him. The constantly moving ensemble sits, sings, dances and swings, and it is delightful from every angle. There is not a bad seat in the house. From the magical swing to constantly changing scenes by those randy servants, the set was simple and elegant. Very nice lighting upgrades made Frank Florentine’s contribution all the brighter! Kaelynn Miller’s sound design was simple and unnoticed due to everything working perfectly, and the sound effect of the swing, charming.
Carol Youmans both is the producer and costume designer and certainly knows how to dress the British! Bright colors and hats for the ladies of gentry, black and white for the staff, mixed with an evening coat and tweed for our gentlemen and the early 1900s appears for the audience to experience. The textures and materials used added credibility to each character’s station in life.
The complexity of the set changes, the cast constantly coming in from 4 different locations; implore me to say that this doesn’t magically happen without a great stage manager. Jean Carroll Christie has done it again!
Ernst in Love is an uplifting joy to see at the intimate theater of a theater in the round; where the stage is central, the music delicious, the plot hilarious and the acting superb!
Running Time: 95 minutes with a 20 minute intermission.
More suitable for children over 12 although I think some as young as 8 will really enjoy and understand this production.
Ernst in Love is running through May 16, 2015 at Colonial Players of Annapolis, 108 East St., Annapolis. For tickets, call the box office at 410-268-7373 or click here.
